The Islamabad Bar Association (IBA) has issued an official notice announcing a discussion session scheduled for January 31, 2026, focusing on the legal and judicial aspects of the conviction of Imaan Mazari.
However, the planned event has triggered controversy with critics alleging that the forum is being used for political campaigning ahead of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) elections due on February 14, 2026.
The notice issued under the reference IBA-26/025 and signed by senior office-bearers of the Islamabad Bar states that the session will examine legal reasoning, constitutional questions and the scope of freedom of expression in light of the recent judgment.
The event is set to be held at the Islamabad District Judicial Complex.
Allegations of political campaigning disguised as legal discourse
Critics argue that the proposed session is not a neutral legal seminar but a political stage aimed at mobilizing voter sentiment for the upcoming bar elections.
They claim that Chaudhary Naeem Gujjar, President of the District Bar Islamabad and a key figure linked to the event is using the conviction to rally support by framing a settled legal verdict as a controversial issue.
According to legal observers, the tweets that led to the conviction were a clear violation of applicable laws, leaving little room for debate among competent lawyers.
They argue that portraying the case as a free-speech issue risks misleading young lawyers and politicizing judicial outcomes for electoral gain.
Questions raised over bar dignity and professional ethics
Legal commentators have also raised concerns about the dignity of the legal profession, stressing that courtrooms and bar forums are meant for principled legal debate not emotional mobilization or prolonged agitation to delay verdicts.
They warn that demanding special “facilities” or sympathy for convicts who insult courts undermines judicial authority and weakens public trust in the justice system.
Several lawyers have called on the bar community to distinguish between genuine legal reform and election-driven rhetoric, noting that leadership positions such as the IHCBA presidency require intellectual honesty and professional integrity.
The January 31 session, they argue, risks turning a judicial verdict into an election rally raising broader questions about the politicization of bar platforms at the expense of legal ethics.
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